Method of and apparatus for drawing wire



' Mzh m, ma. s. MCMULLAN I mmz METHOD OF AND AFPARATUS FOR DRAWING WIRE Filed Jan. l, 1930 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED sTArES P ATENT OFFICE SAMUEL MCMULLAN, OF DOWN ERS, GRVE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORP ORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD OF AND AIPPARATUS FOR DRAWING WIRE i Application filed January 1, 1930. Serial No. 417,841. I

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for drawing Wire, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus especially adapted to the drawing of nonferrous Wire.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for drawing Wire which is simple, inexpenslive, and efiicient and in which reductions in the diameter of the Wire may be eifected through the application of a minimum amount of power.

In accordance W'ith the general features of this invention, a Wire Whose cross section it is desired to reduce is advanced from a supply spool and passed through a plurality of reducing dies While maintained at an annealing temperature. According to the more specific embodiment of the invention the supply spool of Wire and the Wire drawing apparatus proper are maintained at substantially the same temperature, or at a temperature suflicient to anneal' the Wire, resulting in material reduction in the tractive force required to draw the wire, and after the final reduction the Wire is drawn through a quenching medium to prevent oxidation. I

The invention Will be more fully understood from the following description, When taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 ,is a longitudinal Vertical sectional view of a Wire drawing and treating apparatus, and

2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the apparatus, whereby the method may be practiced, consists of a treating tank 10 which has an inlet or supply pipe 11 communicating therewith and which is provided.

with a removable cover.` The supply pipe 11 is connected with a pump (not shown) for forcing a heated fluid, such as oil, indicated at 12, into the. treating tank 10. An outlet pipe 13 ,is in communication with the treating tank 10, in close proximity to the top thereof and is arranged to convey the heating fluid back to the supplying means (not shown). A spool of Wire, which may be termed as a supply spool 14, having a wire 15 wound thereupon which is to be drawn, is disposed ,in the tank 10 and submerged in the fluid 12. The Wire 15 is passed over a roller 16 and is then passed around a pair of capstans 17 and 18, which are rotatably disposed inv the tank 10 beneath the surface of the'fluid 12. It Will be noted that the capstans 17 and 18 are provded with steps 19 which vary in dliameter. This formation of the capstans 17 and 18 not only holds the several convolutions of the Wire taut, but adds rigidity to the Wire as it is drawn through the series of dies indicated at 20. These capstans 17 and 18 also provide a means whereby the several convolutions of the Wire may be disposed at desired spaced apart positions proper for passing through the dies 20.

A cooling means is carried by the treatingtank 10 and consists of a receptacle 21 arranged to receive a Cooling fluid 22 which has its level 23 above the finishing die 24. This allows the Wire 15 to pass into the fluid 22 Without coming in contact with the atmosphere and thereby avoids oxidation. The Wire is drawn into the cooling fluid or medium 22 by a driven capstan 25 around which the Wire is passed. A driven take-up reel" 26 is disposed at any desired position for receiving the Wire from the capstan 25. A supply pipe 27 is provided for supplying the receptacle 21 with the a cooling fluid, While a drain pipe 28 has one end disposed in communication With the receptacle 21 at the level 23 for maintaining a desired level of the Cooling fluid Within the receptacle so as to allow the Wire to be properly cooled and to avoid oxidation. w

vAs vthe Wire is drawn from the supply spool 14, around the capstans 17 and 18 and through the dies 20, it is heated constantly fiat a predetermined temperature by the heated fluid 12. When the fluid 12 is heated, the tractive force required for drawing the Wire is reduced proportionately to the increase of the temperature of the fluid. When the fluid or medium is of a' temperature of 600 F. the tractive force is reduced approximately 50 per cent of that required When the temperature of the fluid or medium is relatively low, i. e. at a temperature of approximately F.

Submerging of the Wire in the heated medium not only anneals the Wire, but decreases the necessary tractive force for drawing the Wire. The cooling means; namely, the cooling fluid 22 in the reservoir 21, cools the Wire prior to its exposure to the atmosphere, thus avoiding oxidation.

Another outstanding feature of this invention is the assurance of longer life of the dies which are exceedingly expensive. The life of the die is lengthened by reducing the Wear thereupon and the Wear upon the die is decreased relative to the reduction in tractive force for drawing the Wire therethrough.

Although a specific form of apparatus has been disclosed as exemplifying the embodiment of the invention, it is understood that other forms of apparatus might be used Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. V

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the type described, comprising a treating tank containin a heated fluid, means disposed in the fluid in said tank for rotatably supporting a reel of Wire, a die disposed in the fluid in said tank, a cooling means associated With said treating tank, and means Whereby the Wire may be drawn from said reel through said die While WitL'n the fluid in said treating tank and into said cooling means before exposing the Wire to the atmosphere.

2. A device of the type described, comprising a treating tank containing a heated fluid, a die disposed in the fluid of said treating tank, a cooling tank having means disposed therein for cooling a Wire, means for drawing a Wire through said die, through the fluid in said treating tank and into said cooling tank, and means connecting said treating tank with said Cooling tank whereby the Wire may pass from said treating tank into said cooling tank Without exposure thereof to the atmosphere.

3. Wire drawing apparatus comprising liquid containing compartments in tandem, one of said compartments containing a pair of stepped capstans, a plurality of dies engaging the Wire between the capstans and a supply source of Wire all submerged in a heated li uid, and a liquid seal for passing the Wire into another of said compartments beneath the level of a Cooling liquid therein.

In witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name this 2lst day of December A. D.,

SAMUEL MOMULLAN. 

